Detailed information
Species
Mellite
Dimensions
14 x 29 x 20
mm
Locality
Tatabánya, Gerecse Mts. Komárom-Esztergom County Hungary
Condition
No recorded repairs
Mellite is one of just a few organic compounds which occur in nature and are classified as a mineral. It is also one of the rare organic compounds containing benzine salts and the elements aluminium, carbon and oxygen. It is termed an aluminium mellitate hydrate and in this excellent large thumbnail shows well developed translucent, equant to tabular octahedral crystals, which grade from colourless to clove-brown. The largest crystal measures 1.7 cm on edge and along one edge displays a sawtooth profile composed of multiple adjacent small crystals. The Mellite occurs in lignite strata within coal mines around Tatabánya in the Gerecse mountains of Hungary. A rare species of unusual chemistry from the Dr Josef Clemente (1899-1987) collection.